I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since I stood on that black auditorium stage with the three working lights shining in my face, staring out into the empty, mostly broken wooden seats, trying to get just one more rehearsal in before getting on a bus to go to Maine to perform at New England Drama Festival. It seemed like just yesterday I was a scared little freshman auditioning for my first high school play, hoping I’d at least get considered for a role. Who knew that choosing to audition for a student-directed play would be one of the best decisions I made in high school.
You were the one who helped me gain self-confidence. Before high school, I was a very quiet person, and didn’t like putting myself out there in fear that people would judge me. But after joining theatre, I realized I loved being the center of attention. I craved the spotlight, feeling the rush of adrenaline every time I stepped onstage. I found myself speaking up more in class and talking to people I was too afraid to beforehand. I didn’t care that people judged me for being too loud or weird and that they talked about me behind my back. I was finally happy with being myself.
You introduced me to the people I consider friends and even my best friends. I was never the social butterfly of the grade and had relatively few friends, since most didn’t understand my obsession with theatre and all of the arts. But from theatre, I was able to meet my best friends and connected with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise without it. I bonded with fellow castmates and crew members backstage, getting to know them personally and creating strange inside jokes no one outside of the program would understand like, “you eat nothing but potatoes.” It was from theatre that I got to spend 3.5 hours for three days a week with the people I loved, who understood all of my obscure musical references, held my hand when I got nervous, and helped me take my mind off things when I was stressed.
You even helped me figure out what I wanted to do in college. Before theatre, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I thought I would major in hospitality and become an event planner, hotel manager, or something like that. But after going through four-years of high school theatre and orchestra with two-years of choir, I hit me that music is such an important part of my life and who I am as a person. So when choosing my major, I decided on music education, where I can share my love of music with my students, and inspire them to go on to do great things, whether it is in theatre or music.
In conclusion, I just wanted to say thank you so much Cranston West Theatre for everything. Thank you for giving me the confidence I didn’t have. Thank you for introducing me to my best friends. Thank you for helping me figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Thank you for what you have done and I will always cherish the memories I have with you.
